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U.N. Launches Appeal for $10.7 Million to Meet Urgent Humanitarian Needs in Libya | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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A view of buildings ravaged by fighting in Sirte, Libya, in 2011. Manu Brabo/AP


New York – The United Nations and humanitarian agencies in Libya issued an urgent appeal on Tuesday for $10.7 million to meet urgent humanitarian needs for around 80,000 people trapped in the city of Sirte.

U.N. and its partners in Libya are “preparing a response to a new complex and acute humanitarian situation with shifting needs of the target population in Sirte”, which is located in Libya’s southern coast, according to a news release issued by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),

“We have tailored our response to meet the increasing needs of the people requiring protection, psychosocial support, mine action, health and food aid,” said U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Libya, Ali Al-Zaatari.

“We need to scale up assistance and we urgently need additional resources. I urge donors to act now to support the people of Sirte at this time of greatest need,” he added.

OCHA said in the press release that the “complex and acute humanitarian situation has developed in Sirte city as people have been returning back to the city but at the same time, new displacement has been triggered” due to military operations against ISIS terrorist group.

“Those who fled the area report severe shortages of food and medicines, looting and confiscations by ISIS terrorists, and serious rights violations,” the press release added.

It further said that the humanitarian community in the country expects that people will continue to return, and that the number is likely to increase once the Government of National Accord forces announce military success.

The agency said that by the end of the year, some 79,400 people will be residing in Sirte municipality and certain districts of the city, although much of the city itself will likely remain inaccessible for several months.

The Sirte Appeal covers the needs for four months, from September throughout December 2016, OCHA stated.